Menomena: “Heavy is as Heavy Does”

Portland’s Menomena have been rocking in refreshing and experimental ways since the turn of the century. Guitarist Brent Knopf programmed software called Digital Looping Recorder, which the band uses to craft all material. Band members take turns recording live instruments into a mic while the already-recorded tracks play back for them, giving everyone an equal and improvisational contribution. Menomena’s 2003 instrumental album Under an Hour was written for and performed with Portland experimental dance company Monster Squad. In 2007 they released the banging Friend and Foe album to receive an 8.5 “Best New Music” from Pitchfork. The album’s Knopf-designed packaging was nominated for a “Best Recording Package” Grammy.

Brent Knopf left the band in 2011 to pursue folk project Romona Falls. Menomena rocks on without him and is to release a fifth album, Moms, in September. After hearing “Heavy is as Heavy Does,” the new album looks to jam as hard as it speaks. “Heavy is as Heavy Does” begins with piano storytelling of a “fucked up family tree.” With dialogue intriguing enough to keep one listening, Menomena covers topics such as not believing in wishful thinking or second chances, father issues, and loving people who do not love you. Just as the song is starting to sound like a musical tumblr-post of complaints, someone pull-starts the chainsaw guitar solo and it is suddenly party time. Like a snake slithering through the air the guitar rips along as the piano and vocals come back in, this time amplified and accented nicely by the lead guitar. “I Feel Free” is sung as the guitar climbs higher and higher to a scratchy peak. Soon the guitar winds down, everything comes back down to the ground, and the lonely piano and vocals are left right back where this story began. The calm beginning, the conflict, the climax, the resolution and return to tranquility.